With a slight smile, Bill gestured and asked, "Hey, what's going on here?" Then, lowering his hands, he continued, "Where are the senior officers and Captain Hina?"
In response to his gesture, the second mate turned his head toward the crowd of people and, when Bill finished, answered, "Sir, yesterday, when we arrived at port, Captain Hina detained all the pirates she could find while others from the landing party gathered them together. Once that was done, the construction of these barricades began immediately."
As the second mate said this, he pointed to the rough barricades, which were little more than open animal pens, and then continued, "Well, I don't know the full story, but after the captain got in touch with the Marine on this island, I heard she offered many pirates a written pardon if they agreed to serve ten years in the navy."
As the man spoke, Bill nodded slightly, aware that the Marines sometimes used conscription, though he had never witnessed it himself.
Continuing to listen, he made a mental note to ask Captain Hina about this when he found her.
"Many agreed... about half or maybe a bit more... Anyway, since they're just marines for now, they've been divided into work groups, as you can see." Pointing at the people behind him, he added, "That's why one mate is leading a small team."
After that, the mate didn't provide much useful information: he and his group were apparently busy restoring the burned forest. He directed Bill toward the pirate ships and said the last he heard, Hina was on the large ship. Saying goodbye, he left with his small group.
Scanning the three pirate ships, Bill noticed they were bustling with activity. Then, leaping into the air, he headed toward the largest ship at a moderate speed. When he had crossed half the distance, one of the senior operators in Hina's crew noticed him. This was a man named Makko, about whom Bill knew only a little.
Landing on the deck, Bill looked up and saw Hina standing in the doorway of the captain's cabin. Despite her questioning look, she simply said, "Lieutenant Ox, Hina didn't think you'd be up from bed so soon. Well, come on in." Then, turning without waiting for a response, she went back inside.
Without nodding, Bill quickly followed her, and Makko closed the door behind them. At the center of the medium-sized room stood a round navigation table. On several roughly drawn maps were lists of names, equipment, and other types of cargo.
Around the table stood Hina and a few other officers from her crew. Taking her place at the table, Hina began to speak: "Captain Ryudo did not contest the bounties, so we will also receive forty-eight million Berries in addition to whatever we can sell from the remaining cargo, estimated at fifteen million."
Listening to Hina speak, Bill reached out to take some forms from the table.
"Hmm..."
What he picked up was a simple expense report.
Technically speaking, the Marine Headquarters does not pay individual salaries. Instead, each base and commissioned ship receives operational funds, determined based on an expected threat level.
For many bases around the world, this is a relatively straightforward process because the waters surrounding them are relatively well-mapped.
As a result, these funds are often managed by the local treasurer.
But for those commissioned ships whose locations change, the funds are usually at the disposal of the senior officer onboard.
Going through the expense report, Bill quickly understood the game Hina was playing.
There were no rookie sailors on the Grand Line. Every Marine had to attain the rank of third mate before being assigned to a ship. This was due to the variety of sea kings and climate conditions found on the Grand Line; unprepared recruits could easily be swept away.
This practice was standard on the Grand Line, and Hina had found a way around it by assigning pirates who became sailors to personal training. Not to her ship, but directly to her. This meant that even at their level, it was unofficially accepted to keep them on board an active ship.
Moreover, the newly recruited sailors received only about eight thousand Berries a month. Considering that beer could cost five hundred Berries, it was clear how small this amount was.
Even if these pirates changed their ways and sought to prove their loyalty, it could take a year before they would be promoted to the rank of junior petty officer, or third mate.
Thinking about all of this, Bill pondered a few more questions. Unfortunately, the expense report he picked up was not very informative. The only thing he could say with certainty was that, despite the death of forty Marines, Captain Hina might have even benefited from this disaster.
He didn't have time to study whether the 'HINA' could be repaired without visiting a shipyard; the sea stone hull was definitely intact, so it was hard to say if the carpenters could handle all the work.
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